Hospital bed



March 31, 1970 M. KER'WIT 3,

HOSPITAL BED Filed Dec. 18, 1968 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MALCOLM KFRW/T A TTO/PNE Y5 M. KERWIT HOSPITAL BED March 31, 1970 m 2 UR My T6 9 h E Q s NL m 10 e c a m m? NKN 4. 8 6 9 1 cm 1 m m d e 1 1 F ala- 6 4 4.

ATTORNEYS March 31, 1970 M.'KERWIT 3,503,082

HOSPITAL JBED Filed Dec. 1.8, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N S 3 .3; (a Q R INVENTOR.

MALCOL M KERW/T A TTORNE' Y5 M. KERWIT HOSPITAL BED March 31, 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Dec. 18, 1968 INVENTOR. MALCOLM KERW/T QWVQQQM.

A TTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,503,082 HOSPITAL BED Malcolm Kerwit, 40--26 Terhune Place, Fair Lawn, NJ. 07410 Filed Dec. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 784,747 Int. Cl. A61g 7/10 U.S. Cl. 67 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved hospital bed including a patient supporting top including panels formed of radiolucent material, which are adjustably mounted on an open rectangular bed frame defining a plan view area substantially the size of the bed through which a radiograph may be taken. The mechanism for adjusting the supporting top is so arranged that it does not obstruct radiographic view through said area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional hospital beds are formed in such a manner that the head and foot ends of the bed may be individually adjusted in order to increase the comfort of the patient or to maintain the patient in certain desired positions when necessary for various treatments. The mechanism for adjusting the respective ends of the bed normally include pulleys, cables, rods and other nonradiolucent metallic devices, which extend both lengthwise and crosswise of the bed frame and cooperate with conventional mattress springs and bed frame supports to render it impossible to take a clear radiograph therethrough.

Thus, each time it is desired to take a radiograph, such as an X-ray or fluoroscope picture of a patient, it is necessary to remove the patient from his bed to a stretcher, which is used to carry him to an X-ray room, wherein he is again moved from the stretcher onto an X-ray table. After the picture is taken, the patient must be returned and shifted over again onto his bed via the stretcher. Numerous attempts are ofttimes necessary to perfect a picture and pictures must be periodically taken during diagnosis or treatment of the patient. Thus, when a patient is either seriously injured or critically ill, the periodic movement may be both painful and detrimental to his health. Also, movement of the patient between bed, stretcher and X-ray table may result in the dislocation of drain tubes, probes, sensors or other devices, which must be accurately maintained in position within the patient.

In order to overcome some of the above drawbacks, it has been proposed, as evidenced by Patents 2,831,201 and 2,881,839, to provide a patient lift and transport device in the form of a stretcher having a patient supporting surface formed of radiolucent material. These patents suggest that the stretcher may be employed to both transport the patient to the X-ray room and support the patient above a conventional X-ray table while desired pictures are taken. While this device constitutes a decided improvement over generally accepted practice, it has the disadvantage that it is not fully adjustable like a conventional hospital bed. Thus, in cases where it is necessary to make a patient as comfortable as possible as an aid to his recovery from a critical illness such as a coronary attack, or a serious accident, the patient must still be transferred to and from a conventional hospital bed. Further, since the device is not fully adjustable, it may also be necessary to transfer the patient to an adjustable X-ray table to permit pictures to be taken at difiicult to achieve angles.

3,503,082 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 ICC SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed toward a novelly designed, fully adjustable hospital bed, which is adapted to comfortably support a seriously ill or injuried patient while permitting X-rays, fluoroscopic or like pictures to be taken without the need for movement of the patient. Desired pictures may be taken both upwardly and downwardly through all portions of the bed, as well as various angles with respect thereto.

The bed of the present invention may, if desired, be rolled to a conventional X-ray room, or when condition of the patient is so critical that he cannot be re moved from the controlled environment of his room, suitable portable X-ray equipment may be brought into the room and desired pictures taken without movement of either the bed or the patient.

DRAWINGS The structure and mode of operation of the hospital bed of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bed of the present invention illustrating two of many possible positions of X-ray nad image tubes with respect to the bed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the bed in nonadjusted position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the bed shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the bed viewed in FIG. 2 with bed supporting legs removed for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 55 in FIG. 3, by showing the bed in adjusted position; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION to provide a comfortable support on which a patient, not

shown, may recline.

Preferably, supporting legs 7, 8 of assemblies 3, 4 are provided with suitable casters 10 in order to facilitate movement of the bed and are of an adjustable telescopic construction so as to permit bed frame 2 to be raised, lowered or tilted lengthwise thereof as may be required.

As will be more fully described, bed 1 is designed so as to permit radiographs, such as X-ray or fluoroscope pictures, to be taken of a patient from any desired angle without the necessity of removing the patient from the bed. When the condition of the patient permits, the patient may be moved to the X-ray room conventionally provided in hospitals by merely rolling the bed on casters 10 and the legs 7, 8 vertically adjusted if required to facilitate accommodation of a conventional X-ray table, not shown, beneath frame 2. However, when the condition of a patient is extremely critical, X-ray or like pictures may be taken of the patient without the need for removing the patient from his own hospital room by employing a mobile image intensifier of the type generally designated at 15. While image intensifier 15 forms no part of the present invention, it is shown for purposes of reference, as including a roller mounted, supporting control cabinet 16, a vertically movable and rotatably supported horizontal arm assembly 17, and a C-arm assembly 18 on which are mounted X-ray and image tubes 19 and 20, respectively. The structure of image intensifier 15 is such as to permit the positions of X-ray and image tubes 19, 20 to be adjusted in order to permit pictures to be taken from both above and beneath the bed, as Well as at other desired angles relative to a patient supported thereon.

Frame 2 is preferably formed by weld or otherwise joining the ends of side, head end and foot end members which are in the form of angle irons 25-28, respectively. If desired, suitable braces, such as corner plates 29 or angle irons, not shown, may be provided to increase the rigidity of frame 2. However, it will be understood that placement of such braces is to be limited to areas adjacent the corner or head and foot ends of the frame, such that the frame when viewed in plan, is fully open inwardly of the inner perimeter thereof, as defined by frame members 25-28 and corner braces when provided.

As in conventional bed constructions, frame 2 may be removably mounted on assemblies 3, 4 by frame carried mounted plates 31, 32 having pin projections 33, 34, which are adapted to be received in slots 35, 36 provided in assembly aflixed brackets 37, 38, respectively.

Support is of plural part construction, including an adjustable head or back rest panel 40, an intermediate stationary panel 41, and an adjustable foot or leg rest portion, including first and second panels 42, 43. Panels 40-43 are preferably formed of relatively rigid sheets of radiolucent material, such as phenolic resin impregnated fabric laminate. It will be understood that panels 40'43, when mounted on frame 2, extend transversely thereof intermediate ends 27, 28. The panels are collectively proportioned so as to accommodate thereon inwardly of the inner perimeter of the frame 2 a patient in fully prone position when the panels are arranged in a planar relationship, as shown, in FIGS. 2 and 3.

By referring particularly to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, it will be seen that intermediate panel 41 is supported on frame 2 by a pair of upstanding L-shaped support plates 45, 46, which may be weld or bolt connected to frame side members 25, 26, respectively. Panel 41 may be aflixed to the horizontally disposed flange portions 45a, 46a of brackets 45, 46 by any suitable means, such as screws 47. When thus mounted, panel 41 may serve to transversely rigidify frame 2.

Again referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, it will be seen that panel 40 is affixed, as by screws 47 to a generally U-shaped brace member in the form of angle iron 48, which is in turn hingedly afiixed to support brackets 45, 46 by aligned pivot pins 49. Panel 42 is afiixed, as by screws 47, to a pair of brace members in the form of irons 51, 52, which are hingedly aflixed at one end thereof to support brackets 45, 46 by axially aligned pivot pins 53. Panel 43 is affixed, as by screws 47 to a generally U-shaped brace in the form of angle iron 55, which is in turn hingedly aflixed to the other ends of brace members 51, 52 by axially aligned pivot pins 56. When thus mounted, panels 40, 42 and 43 are pivotally supported for movement about parallel axes disposed transversely of frame 2. If brace members 48, 51, 52, 55 are made sufiiciently rigid, the rigidity of panels 40-43 may be decreased.

The foot transverse edge of panel 43 is normally supported by roller mounting guides 57, 58 depending from the legs of brace member 51. A suitable handle, such as inverted U-shaped rod 59, which is afiixed to the transverse base of brace member 51 may be employed to lift panel 43, as will hereinafter be discussed.

By referring to FIG. 3, it will be noted that each of brace members 48, 51, 52 and 55 are arranged peripherally of supporting top 5 and disposed in an overlying relationship with frame 2, when the panels are arranged in planar relationship.

Panel 40 may be adjustably tilted with respect to the frame about pivot pins 49, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 by a back rest adjustment assembly including an operating mechanism, generally designated at 60, and a pair of lifting arms 61, 62, which are adapted to be simultaneously operated by mechanism 60. Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be seen that operating mechanism 60 includes a drive shaft 64, which is journaled in a plurality of bearing blocks 65 suitably carried beneath head end member 27; and a pair of driven shafts 67, 68, which are journaled in suitable bearing blocks 69, 70, carried beneath frame side members 25, 26, respectively. Driven shafts 67, 68 are drivingly connected to drive shaft 64 adjacent opposite ends thereof by pairs of beveled gears 71, '72 and are provided with worms 73, 74, respectivel Di ive shaft 64 may be manually driven by a suitable operator handle, shown in phantom at in FIG. 4, which is adapted to be removably or otherwise attached to one or the other of the ends of drive shaft 64, which project freely outwardly through apertures, not shown, provided in side members 25, 26 and mounting plates 31.

Lifting arms 61, 62 are affixed adjacent one end thereof for rotation with shafts 77, 78, which are in turn rotatably supported by inverted U-shaped brackets 79, suitably carried beneath frame side members 25, 26, respectively. Lifting arms 61, 62 are drivingly connected to worms 73, 74 by worm gears 81, 82, which are suitably keyed to shafts 77, 78. The free ends 61a, 62a of lifting arms 61, 62, which are adapted to rotatably support rollers 83, 84, respectively, are deformed laterally or outwardly with respect to frame side members 65, 66 so as to position rollers 83, 84 vertically intermediate frame side members 25, 26 and the legs of brace member 48.

It will be apparent by viewing the drawings that upon rotating drive shaft 64 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, arms 61, 62 may be simultaneously pivoted in a clockwise direction, as indicated by arrow 85 in FIG. 2, whereby rollers 83, 84 are forced to roll along beneath the legs of brace members 48 so as to pivot or tilt panel 40 upwardly, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 5. Panel 40 is maintained in adjusted position by the well known locking action between Worms 72, 73 and worm gears 81, 82.

Panel 41 may be adjustably tilted with respect to the frame about pivot pins 53, as best shown in FIG. 5, by a foot rest adjusting assembly including an operating mechanism, generally designated at and a pair of lifting linkages 91, 92, which are adapted to be simultaneously operated by mechanism 90.

Mechanism 90, which may be identical in construction to previously described mechanism 60, includes a drive shaft 94, which is journaled in a plurality of bearing blocks suitably carried beneath foot end member 28; and a pair of driven shafts 97, '98, which are journaled in a plurality of bearing blocks 99, suitably carried beneath frame side members 25, 26, respectively. Driven shafts 97, 98 are drivingly connected to drive shaft 94 adjacent opposite ends thereof by pairs of beveled gears 101, 102 and provided with worms 103, 104, respectively. Drive shaft 94 may be manually driven by an operator handle of the type indicated in phantom at 75 in FIG. 4, which is adapted to be removably or otherwise connected to one or the other of the ends of drive shaft 94, which project freely outwardly through apertures, not shown, provided in frame side members 25, 26 and mounting plates 26.

Linkages 91, 92 include pairs of link arms 109, 111 and 1 12, 114, which are pivotally interconnected by pivot pins 115 and 116, respectively. Link arms 111, 114 are pivotally affixed to brace members 51, 52 of panel 42 by axially aligned pivot pins 117, 118, whereas link arms 109, 112 are affixed for rotation with shafts 119, Shafts 119, 120 are rotatably supported by inverted U- shaped brackets 121, 122 suitably carried beneath side members 25, 2-6, respectively. Link arms 109, 112 are drivingly connected to Worms 103, 104 by Worm gears 125, 126, which are suitably keyed for rotation with shafts 119, 120, respectively. Thus, it will be apparent that when drive shaft 94 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2., link arms 109, 112 may be simultaneously pivoted thereby in a clockwise direction, as indicated by arrow 129 in FIG. 2, thereby forcing panel 42 to pivot or tilt upwardly, as viewed in FIG. 5. Also, it will be apparent that as panel 42 is tilted upwardly, panel 43 will automatically pivot about pivot pins 56, so as to position panel 43 in its full line position shown in FIG. 5. During such pivotal movement, relative movement of panel 43 with respect to the frame is facilitated by the roller mounted guides 57, 58.

Panel 43 may be independently adjusted with respect to panel 42 by an arrangement including a pair of panel position locking plates 131, 132, which are suitably affixed to frame side members 25, 26* in a transversely aligned relationship, and provided with a plurality of slots 133, 134. Slots 133, 134 are adapted to removably receive the free ends of generally U-shaped braces 135, 136, which are pivotally supported by the legs of brace member 55, so as to maintain panel 43 in a desired adjusted position, such as that indicated in phantom in FIG. 5. Movement of panel 43 between the full and phantom line positions, shown in FIG. 5, is facilitated by manually manipulated handle 9.

It will be noted that corner plates 29 cooperate with frame members 25-28 to cover the moving parts of operating mechanism 60 and 90 in order to prevent injury to a patient thereby.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that by providing a rectangular frame which is fully open inwardly of the inner perimeter thereof; by positioning the brace members of the top panels immediately above the frame side members, and also above the frame head and foot members when the panels are in planar relationship; and by arranging the panel adjustment assemblies such that they do not project substantially inwardly of the inner perimeter of the frame, radiographs may be taken through a plan view area substantially the same size as the bed, which is free of nonradiolucent materials forming the bed structure. While brace members 48, 55 are moved inwardly of the inner periphery of the frame adjacent the head and foot ends thereof upon adjustment of panels 40, 43, such brace members do not interfere with the taking of desired pictures, since the head and feet of the patient are also moved inwardly with respect to the ends of the frame by adjustment of the panels. Thus, desired pictures may be taken of the patient without the necessity of moving the patient into a fully prone position'from either a head or foot elevated position, which it is necessary to maintain from the standpoint of his medical condition.

While only one specific embodiment of the hospital bed has been described in detail, it will be apparent that various modifications or additions thereto may be made without departing from the present invention. In this respect, it is anticipated that suitable electrical or bydrau ic drives may be employed to operate the head and foot panel adjustment assemblies, and that such assemblies may be other than that specifically sho-wn.

What is claimed is:

1. A hospital bed comprising in combination:

a rigid rectangular bed frame, said frame when viewed in plan being fully open inwardly of the inner perimeter thereof;

a patient supporting top mounted on said frame, said top including a plurality of radiolucent panels disposed transverse y of said frame and intermediate the ends thereof, said panels being collectively proportioned so as to accommodate thereon inwardly of said inner perimeter of said frame a human patient in fully prone position when said panels are arranged in a planar relationship, at least one of said panels being pivotally adjustable with respect to another of said pane s and with respect to said CJI frame about an axis extending transversely of said frame;

means extending vertically from outside said inner perimeter for supporting said frame at an elevation above a hospital floor sufficient to permit the positioning of radiographic equipment both above and below the body of a patient when supported by said top; and

means for adjusting said one panel, said adjusting means being arranged so as to have substantially no portion thereof disposed inwardly of said inner perimeter when said frame is viewed in plan.

2. A hospital bed according to claim 1, wherein said top includes a head rest panel, an intermediate panel and first and second foot rest panels, said intermediate panel being stationary, said head rest panel and said first foot rest panel being pivotally supported adjacent opposite marginal edges of said intermediate panel for pivotal movement about a pair of axes extending transversely of said frame, and said second foot rest panel being carried for movement with said first foot rest panel and being independently movable with respect thereto about a third axis disposed parallel to said pair of axes.

3. A hospital bed according to claim 2, wherein said adjusting means includes a pair of adjustment assemblies carried one adjacent each of said ends of said frame, a first of said adjustment assemblies being adapted to adjust said head rest panel, and the second of said adjustment assemblies being adapted to adjust at least said first foot rest panel.

4. A hospital bed according to claim 3, wherein cooperating means carried by said second foot rest panel and said frame are adapted to adjustably lock said second panel in pivotally adjustable position with respect to said first foot panel.

5. A hospital bed according to claim 1, wherein said other panel is nonmovably supported on said frame and said adjustment means includes an adjustment assembly for said one panel, said assembly including a pair of lifting arms carried one by each of a pair of side members of said frame for vertically swinging movement about an axis extending transversely of said frame, and operating means to simultaneously pivot said lifting arms vertically about the last said axis, each of said lifting arms including roller means supporting said one panel, whereby upon pivotal movement of said lifting arms in a first direction said one panel may be removed from said planar relationship and adjustably positioned with respect to said other panel.

6. A hospital bed according to claim 5, wherein said operating means includes a drive shaft journaled beneath an end member of said frame, a pair of driven shafts journaled one beneath each of said frame side members, said driven shafts being bevel gear connected to said drive shaft and including worm means, and a pair of worm gears rotatable one with each of said lifting arms, said worms being meshed with said worm gears so as to drivingly connect said drive shaft to said lifting arms.

7. A hospital bed according to claim 1, wherein said other panel is stationary nonmovably supported on said frame and said adjustment means includes an adjustment assembly for said one panel, said assembly including a pair of linkages carried one adjacent each of a pair of side members forming said frame, and linkage operating means, each said linkage including a first link pivotally supported adjacent one end thereof on said frame for rotation about an axis disposed transversely thereof and a second link pivotally connected both to said one panel and the other end of said first link such that when said first link is pivoted about the last said axis, the links forming each said linkage are pivoted with respect to each other and said first panel is pivoted with respect to said other panel.

8. A hospital bed according to claim 7, wherein said operating means including a drive shaft journaled beneath 7 8 an end member of said frame, a pair of driven shafts, means extending vertically from outside said area for journaled one beneath each of said frame side members, supporting said frame at an elevation above a hossaid driven shafts being bevel gear connected to said pital floor sufficient to permit the positioning of radiodrive shaft and including worm means, and a pair of graphic equipment both above and below the body of worm gears rotatable, one with each of said first links, a patient when supported by said top; and said worms being meshed with said worm gears so as to means for adjusting said one panel, said adjusting means drivingly connect said linkages to said drive shaft. being arranged on said bed such that it does not 9. A hospital bed according to claim 1, wherein said substantially obstruct radiographic view through said supporting top includes resilient radiolucent mattress suparea. ported on said panels.

10. A hospital bed comprising in combination: References Cited an open rectangular bed frame, said frame when viewed UNITED STATES PATENTS 1n plan defining area substantially the size ofthe bed 2,831,201 4/1958 Limbach thrfugh a radwgriph be-taken 3 127619 4/1964 Bronstien 5-68 a patient supporting top, said top includlng a plurality 3,191,195 6/1965 Schlackman et a1. "n 5 66 X of radiolucent panels disposed transversely of said frame and adapted to support a patient within said area, at least one of said panels being pivotally ad- CASMIR NUNBERG Prlmary Exammfir justable with respect to another of said panels and U S c1 XR with respect to said frame about an axis extending transversely of said frame; 269-323 

